REVIEW: The Mirror Crack’d (Salisbury Playhouse) ★★★★
When thinking of Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple, a prim, elderly spinster with a love of interfering immediately springs to mind. Far be it from me to criticise a crime fiction genius, but in some ways, Marple has always seemed to me a little one-dimensional – something that this production of The Mirror Crack’d goes some […]
REVIEW: ABIGAIL’S PARTY (New Victoria Theatre) ★★★★
Stage and TV star Jodie Prenger, Coronation Street and Emmerdale’s Vicky Binns and Daniel Casey, best known as DS Gavin Troy in Midsomer Murders, lead the cast in this comedy 1970s classic now playing at the New Victoria Theatre in Woking. Beverly and husband Laurence are throwing a party for their neighbours, Tony and Angela. Joining […]
REVIEW: ROCK OF AGES (New Wimbledon Theatre) ★★★
Global smash Rock Of Ages has had wonderful success since its first production in Los Angeles in 2005. The 80’s glam metal jukebox musical features songs from bands including Styx, Journey, Bon Jovi, Pat Benatar, Twisted Sister, Steve Perry, Poison and Europe among others, set to an 80’s love story of new girl in town […]
REVIEW: Berberian Sound Studio (Donmar Warehouse) ★★★
Peter Strickland’s 2012 film Berberian Sound Studio, was a masterpiece of tension and psychological drama firmly based in the Italian genre of giallo, that is marked by sex, violence, mystery and horror. Now it has been conceived for the stage by Joel Horwood and Tom Scutt. But sadly, it doesn’t come close to the film […]
REVIEW: Avenue Q (Royal & Derngate) ★★★★
We all love the muppets (admit it – you think Kermit is sexy), but puppets in general were always considered a bit childish. In recent years more and more stage shows have been using puppetry to portray concepts and surreal elements of a story. Avenue Q cuts through this attitude and thrusts puppets and humans […]
REVIEW: Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train (Young Vic) ★★★
Stephen Adly Guirgis’ 2000 play, Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train follows Angel Cruz and God-lover Lucius Jenkins, as they navigate life in a prison on Rikers Island in New York. Puetro-Rican, Angel, played with refined commitment by Ukweli Roach, shot a religious cult leader in the behind, landing him with potential murder charges. Packed densely […]
REVIEW: THE CLOCKMAKER’S DAUGHTER (Studio Recording) ★★★★★
Back in 2015, I went to see a new musical, The Clockmaker’s Daughter, at the much missed Landor Theatre in London. In my review, I called the show “one of the best off-west end productions around” and so to hear that a studio recording of the show, featuring incredible talents like Ramin Karimloo, Hannah Waddingham, […]
REVIEW: Fame The Musical (New Wimbledon Theatre) ★★★
Fame is nothing short of a global phenomenon. First appearing as a major motion picture in 1980, it has had continued success as a six-season television series, a musical and a 2009 film remake. Conceived from the unforgettable Academy Award-winning film and subsequent Emmy Award-winning television series, Fame The Musical was significantly rewritten from the […]
REVIEW: THE BAND (New Victoria Theatre) ★★★
Not having been a fan of “Take That” I was unsure what to expect with the new “Take That” Musical “The Band” currently running at the New Victoria Theatre in Woking. For me, the main issue throughout the show was the plot or to be more precise the lack of plot. Briefly, five girls bunk […]
REVIEW: HOTEL PARADISO (Jackson Lane) ★★★
Jackson Lane describes itself as the North London Creative Space and circus troupe Lost in Translation Circus regard it as a spiritual home for their narrative driven circus act show. Following the success of their show “Hogwallops”, “Hotel Paradiso” tells loosely of the efforts of the hotel owner and her staff to save the business […]